ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar Abadi announced Saturday that government forces had pushed back militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) from the strategically significant district of Khalidiya in Anbar province.
The militants overran the district in late 2014 after the Iraqi army withdrew from the province ahead of an ISIS offensive earlier that year.
"This is one of the greatest victories of our brave soldiers," the prime minister said in his statement. "The operation is now complete, with the enemy losing ground and forces."
Anbar, located some 100 kilometers west of Baghdad, is predominantly a Sunni province. It has been at the center of an anti-government insurgency since 2003.
The recapture of Khalidiya comes only days after Iraqi forces entered the Qayyara township in Nineveh province. Both military successes are deemed important to the looming Mosul offensive, which is believed to take place before the start of the cold season in the country.
Apart from Mosul and areas west and southwest of Kirkuk, the Islamic State has virtually lost control of all major towns in Iraq, although the group still controls Iraq's northwestern borders with Syria, south of Kurdish-controlled territories.
Fallujah, Romadi, Baiji and Haditha have been recaptured after government-backed Shiite forces launched their operations over the past year.
The group is besieged in the towns and villages southwest of Kirkuk, including in the deserted town of Hawija, where Kurdish and Iraqi forces have almost full control of all main gates to the city.
The militants overran the district in late 2014 after the Iraqi army withdrew from the province ahead of an ISIS offensive earlier that year.
"This is one of the greatest victories of our brave soldiers," the prime minister said in his statement. "The operation is now complete, with the enemy losing ground and forces."
Anbar, located some 100 kilometers west of Baghdad, is predominantly a Sunni province. It has been at the center of an anti-government insurgency since 2003.
The recapture of Khalidiya comes only days after Iraqi forces entered the Qayyara township in Nineveh province. Both military successes are deemed important to the looming Mosul offensive, which is believed to take place before the start of the cold season in the country.
Apart from Mosul and areas west and southwest of Kirkuk, the Islamic State has virtually lost control of all major towns in Iraq, although the group still controls Iraq's northwestern borders with Syria, south of Kurdish-controlled territories.
Fallujah, Romadi, Baiji and Haditha have been recaptured after government-backed Shiite forces launched their operations over the past year.
The group is besieged in the towns and villages southwest of Kirkuk, including in the deserted town of Hawija, where Kurdish and Iraqi forces have almost full control of all main gates to the city.
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